Role of Male in Diversity of Species

Dr. V. T. Ingole

Although the origin of life on earth is a mystery, the evolution of so

many diversified species and subspecies has been puzzling the
evolutionists. The mystery is further deepened by the numerous
varieties (more than billion) of living matter adapted to survive in
water, land and air that too in the most extreme environment. The
fundamentals of variation in characters of species could be
explained by gene mixing as well as spontaneous mutations.
Darwinian concept of survival of fittest is generally accepted for
evolution and existence amongst such genetically mixed as well as
mutated species. However, it remained unclear as regards to the
present state of evolution of millions of living organism in such a
short period (less than 3 billion years) as compared to the life
supporting age (4 billion years) of the earth.
From the early stages of life formation, be it a single or multi-
cellular, the replication of cells comprising genes, the survival and
further propagation have been responsible. There are two
processes involved in life formation by cell namely mitosis and
meiosis. In mitosis double stranded chromosome cells replicate in
to similar double stranded chromosome cells whereas in meiosis
double stranded chromosome cells are transformed in to a cell
having only half the chromosome or single strand of chromosome.
The former is the process wherein the number of chromosome
pairs remains unchanged after replication whereas, in the later
case a whole cell is formed from two cells each having half the
number of chromosomes. It is known that during both the
processes (mitosis, meiosis) mixing of genes and spontaneous
mutation occurs. It has been postulated that mitosis was the only
process of replication/propagation when life began on earth and is
still prevalent in many of the unicellular and few multi-cellular
organisms. Meiosis evolved at much latter stage of evolution. Let
us try to understand these processes.
The mixing of gene involves three processes such as: 1. Exchange
of genes on the similar chromosomes within the pair (lateral). 2.
The jumping of genes where genes exchange their position on the
same strand of chromosome or within the pair. 3. In spontaneous
mutation the genetic code changes within the gene. The first
process brings in changes in the offspring more in physiological
than anatomical. By the second process there are more changes in
anatomical along with physiological. Whereas the by the third
process there are likely to be radical changes in all the aspects. In
mitosis the jumping and mixing of genes are regular as compared
to spontaneous mutation however, as explained before the
changes in the subsequent generations would occur only through
such mutations. Normally genetic mutations do not occur
concurrently but sequentially and governed by probability theory.
Considering the number of species evolved and the duration of life
supporting environment on Earth it appears improbable for the
evolution by mere mitosis. In species of higher order like human
mitosis takes place only 6 to 7 times in his lifetime. Considering
multiple generations of replicated cells by mitosis the chances of
genetic variation necessitates substantial period for present day
picture of evolution. Similar phenomenon is observed in the
surviving strains which become naturally immune to
antibiotics/pesticides. In the reproductive cycle of certain gecko
species only female is involved without male. Its eggs comprise all
the chromosomes of the mother and the offspring are true replica of
their mother genes. Such mechanism is some way simple however;
the species are very susceptible to infections, environmental
changes etc and only those would survive which are fittest as per
Darwin’s principle. If we substitute unicellular by multi-cellular then
the period required for genetic evolution would go many folds due
to higher age of maturity. It could be inferred from the foregoing
discussion that the mechanism of evolution exclusively through
mitosis is vulnerable and slow. If we consider the evolution another
process of reproduction in the form of meiosis, perhaps this might
give an answer to the faster evolution mechanism. This process is
somewhat complex because it involves two similar species. Let us
give a logical consideration to this process. For simplicity let us call
the two species involved in meiosis as female and male. In meiosis
reproductive cell are formed having half the chromosomes (one
strand of double helix). The one, who has fewer reproductive cells
(called female ovum), accepts external reproductive cells (called
male sperms) and conceives. The advantage of this process over
mitosis is that two separated partners are involved in reproduction
thereby promoting the probability of increased gene mixing hence
having offspring with varied characters. In certain species both
parts are played by same specie known as hermaphrodite however,
in breeding again two partners are involved. The danger of self
breeding is circumvented by typical location of reproductive organs.
In this process there is likely to be disadvantageous due to
inbreeding similar to mitosis. Inbreeding means where female &
male of close relations are involved in the reproduction in the
breeding process. It is interesting to observe the number of ovum
which is in less as compared to the number of sperms is many
many fold. Female has one ovum per month as compared to
350000000 sperms per ejaculation. Theoretically as such there is a
need of one to one ratio between ovum and sperm to satisfy gene
mixing criterion then wonders as to why this ratio is deviated by
nature to such a large extent? In the species of higher order it has
been observed that the formation of ovum takes place during the
embryonic development during pregnancy of the female whereas
production of sperm in male is a continuous process during the
matured life of male. The ovum is released for conception by
female at a defined time or period whereas male sperms are ready
all the time. In terms of probability the occurrence of mutation in
female is rather less due to fewer numbers of ova whereas the
probability of mutation in male has to be many many fold due sheer
number of sperms. One has to consider the mortality of all these
sperm cells as per survival of fittest theory. All such sperms are
subjected to the test of survival by two forces such as intrinsic and
extrinsic parameters. The intrinsic parameter comprises body
temperature, immunity, antibodies etc. whereas extrinsic parameter
comprises atmospheric temperature, oxygen level, altitude,
pollution encompassing everything around including prevailing
global and cosmic forces. Only those sperm would survive which
are fittest to live in good and combat evil forces and pass on such
competent genes to the next generation. In case of mosquitoes for
example similar phenomenon has been observed where
subsequent generations have become immune to DDT and many
insecticides. Let us now give attention to the size of ovum and
sperm. The size of ovum is more and hence less mobile whereas
size of the sperm is very very small hence more mobile. It can be
carried to a great distance by natural currents. Simple analogy can
be given in case of dust and stones subjected to wind or water
currents. Dust may cover very large distance as compared to stone.
Such mobility on part of one partner not only avoids but mixing of
varied sperms with varied ovum surviving in different environment
globally. Secondly the energy of the sperm is limited and hence the
ablest and strongest one would survive. And few amongst those
would take part in reproduction. In conclusion it can be postulated
that by the sheer large population of sperm the probability of mutant
sperm increases, the continuously produced sperms are subjected
to global and cosmic environment hence they are time tested and
due to their mobility they not only avoid inbreeding but fertilize most
suitable ovum globally. Thus sperms are responsible for main
genetic changes thereby enhancing the diversity of species in
evolution. This way the time required for the evolution is cut down
drastically. This probably is the answer to the question as to why
meiosis was evolved. By this postulation one can account for the
evolution of millions of species in rather short a period in relation to
age of earth. We shall term such evolution as parallel evolution
which to some extent answers the enigma of duration of evolution
and life of the earth.

Further reading:
1.The Selfish Gene, (Oxford Press) by Richard Dawkins
2.The Web of Life (Collins Publisher) by Fritj of Capra
3.The Blind Watchmaker (W. W. Norton NY) by Richard Dawkins

By
Dr.V.T.Ingole
‘104’Ganerdiwal layout
Camp Amravati
Maharastra
India
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